James Edwards announces campaign for County Commissioner Precinct 1

Published 6:03 am, Friday, December 18, 2015

A former justice of the peace and retired Texas Department of Transportation employee has announced his candidacy for County Commissioner Precinct 1.

James Edwards, 63, will run as a Republican in the March 1 Primary. It will be a three-way race in the GOP Primary, with Edwards going against incumbent Harold King and challenger Ralph Langley. There is not a Democratic candidate for the post.

Four years ago, Edwards ran against King in the General Election as a Democrat.

Born in Silverton and a graduate of Silverton High School, Edwards served as justice of the peace in Briscoe County for 10 years prior to moving to Plainview about 20 years ago. He worked in maintenance for the Texas Department of Transportation for 20 years, retiring in 2011.

"If elected, this will be a full-time job for me because I'm retired from the state," he said. "With my knowledge working with the state, I do know how to fix the roads. I think that instead of only maintaining the roads, we ought to be able to improve them."

Edwards received paramedic training at Panhandle Emergency Medical Services at Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo and served as a volunteer paramedic and firefighter for 16 years in Silverton where he was president of the Briscoe County Peace Officers Association, Silverton Cemetery Association, Little League, Little Dribblers and Silverton Softball Association. He also served on the board of Briscoe County Clinic and attended Silverton Church of Christ.

He is married to Linda and has two stepchildren -- Amy Lopez of Austin and Paul Lopez of Lockney -- and three grandchildren.

"I'm looking forward to serving the citizens of Hale County, not only in Precinct 1 but all the citizens. I plan to meet with citizens and look for ways to cut the budget and save taxpayers money, and bring new industry into the community," Edwards says. “I would appreciate your support, and especially your vote.”